As curator of Entertainment History at the Smithsonian, Dwight Blocker Bowers spends his days surrounded by movie costumes and props from past and present, including the Lone Ranger’s mask and those famous red shoes worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Speaking recently to The Collectors Weekly, Blocker Bowers explains what his job entails, the most popular exhibits at the museum and why Carol Burnett wore a dress with a curtain road attached. Entertainment Curator… Blocker Bowers: I’ve been at the Smithsonian for 28 years—I never thought I’d stay that long! The first job I had was as a producer and annotator of recordings. We used to…

Some on-set photos of Wall Street 2 have just made their way ONLINE. As per our previous article, Shia LaBeouf in leather – an unremarkable looking black leather bomber jacket in fact – was spot-on. We didn’t predict the Gucci loafers though. And Michael Douglas in a black and white twill check shirt and black shades? Godron Gekko clearly did not keep up his GQ subscription in jail. Ellen Mirojnick created Gekko’s memorable look for the original film and she is back on board here. © 2009 – 2014, Lord Christopher Laverty.

It has been a couple of weeks since this trailer surfaced, but having missed it then we feel it’s worth a post now. For anyone remotely interested in period costume, Rush looks to be something of a seventies-fest. Rush (directed by Ron Howard) tells the true story of Formula One drivers James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) focusing on their intense and dangerous track rivalry. It is set in 1976 and features a wardrobe of era favourites such as fur trimmed coats and head-scarves for Olivia Wilde as model Suzy Miller and ringer tees for Hemsworth. Wilde does look incredible in this period, her hair and make-up…

Following the success of one-off Victorian drama The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, aka The Murder at Road Hill House, shown on British television in 2011, a follow up was commissioned. Again it stars Paddy Considine as the title character and again it’s based on a book by Kate Summerscale, but unlike the infamous story of Constance Kent, The Murder in Angel Lane is entirely fictitious. Angel Lane is set several years after the 1860 case that ruined Jack Whicher’s career in the Police force. Whicher is now working as an occasional private detective and living in modest, if not squalid conditions. He is a different character now, a paranoid, broken…

The UK trailer for Lovelace has debuted with all the grainy razzmatazz you would expect of a film set in the world of 1970s porn. However, although Linda Lovelace’s oral talents are drawing most grasps in this footage, we were more impressed by the costumes. Every single dress gorgeous Amanda Seyfried wears is gorgeous. Forget Anna Karenina, Catching Fire, The Great Gatsby, this is the film we want to see spark a fashion revolution/revival. The 70’s is generally considered a joke as far as style is concerned, but surely this kneejerk opinion is on the wane? Tell us Seyfried as Linda Lovelace does not look amazing in every single outfit…

One of the most famous costumes in Grease (1978) comes from Cha-Cha DiGregorio, a minor, but totally vital character, in her ‘hot mama’ ruffled Flamenco-style dress at the dance-off. So called because she is “the best dancer at St. Bernadette’s”, Cha-Cha brings a spicy ‘Latina’ flavour to proceedings. Ironically the actress Annette Cardona, of Mexican-Sicilian descent, was advised by her agent to change her name to Annette Charles, the former being considered “too ethnic”. Other than her dress, Cha-Cha has two further costumes. Her first is barely seen by the audience as she pulls up with her arm protectively around Leo, leader of ‘T-Bird’ rivals ‘The Scorpions’, as he mocks…

Starring: Michael Caine, Jude Law Directed by: Kenneth Branagh The filmed stageplay is often just avant-garde cinema for the masses; this new version (2007) of Anthony Shaffer’s mystery play Sleuth, here rendered so post-modern by director Kenneth Branagh it was practically dated the moment it was shot, is no exception. Strictly speaking this is a remake of the 1972 movie of the same name starring Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier; Caine remains on board (now playing Olivier’s part with Jude Law taking his original role) and bolstered by a screenplay from renowned playwright Harold Pinter. The plot is similar to seventies version, though Pinter, who hadn’t seen the previous film…

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston Directed by: Roman Polanski This bleak detective noir follows luxuriously suited P.I. or ‘snoop’ J.J. ‘Jake’ Gittes (Jack Nicolson) as he investigates corrupt water rights and Evelyn Mulwray’s (Faye Dunaway) dark family secrets in 1930s Los Angeles. It’s an exquisite piece, based on Robert Towne’s technically flawless screenplay and directed with knowing panache by Roman Polanski. Note how Gittes appears in every single scene, a difficult cinematic device akin to the novels of Raymond Chandler from which the film draws heavy inspiration. Towne and Polanski may have quarrelled over the ending, but their creative synergy is undeniable. Anthea Sylbert’s costume design remains memorable…

A new trailer for Jane Campion’s Bright Star has hit the web. Due for release in the UK on 6th November, the film looks to be a refashioned view of period romance and meticulous showcase for early 19th century dress. Watch the trailer HERE Bright star is based on the last three years in the life of poet John Keats (Ben Whislaw), specifically his secret love affair with muse Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Keats was only twenty-five when he died so this isn’t an upbeat tale by any stretch. Though director/screenwriter Jane Campion’s most celebrated picture The Piano (1993) was an emotional gut-wrencher too, and all the more perfect because…

Maleficent is a nasty piece of work. She curses a princess, Aurora, to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die before her 16th birthday. She wears black, has horns on her hat. She is sensational. Disney’s live action interpretation of Maleficent, based on their own adaptation of the Wicked Fairy Godmother in Sleeping Beauty (1959), has just released a teaser trailer. The film follows the story of how Maleficent (played by Angelina Jolie) came to be, from a beautiful kind-hearted girl to the twisted Mistress of Evil, similar in some respects to the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz. Basically a good gal gone bad, and who…